As Sussex experiences one of its driest periods in recent years, the St. Helen’s Park Preservation Society is renewing its call for Hastings Borough Council to remove the proposed Sandrock Bends development site from the Local Plan when councillors meet on August 10th.
The prolonged dry weather has brought into sharp focus just how fragile our natural environment has become. Across the county, streams are running low, woodland is under increasing stress, and wildlife is facing unprecedented challenges. It is precisely at times like these that protecting existing green spaces and the natural systems that support them becomes even more important.
The Society, alongside Standing Up for Nature and CPRE, has again written to Hastings Borough Council ahead of its forthcoming meeting on 10th August, urging councillors to reject the inclusion of Sandrock Bends as a potential development site.
The land sits immediately adjacent to St. Helen’s Woods – the treasured Local Nature Reserve bequeathed to the people of Hastings by Isabel Blackman in the 1950s. Independent experts in ecology and hydrology have consistently warned that development on the site could have serious consequences for the reserve, disrupting natural water flows, damaging sensitive habitats and placing further pressure on wildlife already struggling to cope with increasingly extreme weather conditions.
With drought now affecting much of Sussex, these concerns have become even more pressing. Healthy woodland acts as a natural sponge, storing water, reducing surface run-off and helping ecosystems withstand periods of prolonged dryness. Disturbing the land around the reserve risks undermining these vital natural processes at exactly the wrong time.
Previous proposals by major developer Gladman Ltd. have already failed to satisfy environmental concerns, with even East Sussex County Council’s own ecologist raising objections to the site’s suitability for development.
Public opposition has also been overwhelming. Last year, almost 1,000 residents submitted objections during the consultation, reflecting widespread concern about the environmental damage the proposal could cause, alongside increased traffic congestion, greater danger for pedestrians, and additional pressure on local services and access to the Conquest Hospital.
“Allowing development on this land would not only be unwise, it would be irresponsible,” said the Chair of the St. Helen’s Park Preservation Society, adding “Climate change is no longer a distant threat—we are seeing its effects here in Sussex today. The current drought underlines why every decision affecting our natural environment must be made with the greatest care. We urge Hastings Borough Council to remove Sandrock Bends from the Local Plan and protect this unique landscape for future generations.”
The Society believes the Council now has a clear opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to nature recovery, climate resilience and responsible planning by removing Sandrock Bends from further consideration for development.
